French, Chinese artists revive industrial heritage in Hunan

French and Chinese artists have been collaborating on an innovative project to infuse new cultural vitality into a former mining hub in Ningxiang, Hunan province.

The French team from the Avignon Higher School of Art is partnering with Chinese counterparts to restore and preserve the historical industrial structures in the Wumuchong International Art Zone, located in the once-thriving coal-mining town of Meitanba in Ningxiang.

Following the closure of the last local coal mine in 2014, the town has been undergoing a transformation. Launched in 2016, the art zone project aims to convert this industrial heritage into a center for art and culture with global appeal.

Cooperation with the French institution began earlier this year, focusing on the restoration of nine old buildings in the area. Recently, the French team, comprising artists and conservation experts, has been working on-site in the art zone.

"The restoration of the buildings aims to preserve their authentic materials," Hervé Giocanti, a professor of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage at ESAA, said. "First, we need to understand the history of this mine and its people," he added.

By visiting and interviewing retired miners, the team delved deeply into the stories of the mining area, incorporating personal narratives and emotional connections into the finer details of the restoration work.

Ecological considerations were also central to the project. The French team introduced the biochar technology, which treats abandoned materials through anaerobic combustion, reducing pollution while producing outputs useful in both agriculture and art.

French artist Sarah Venturi created a unique pigment from recycled coal dust from the site, naming it "Meitanba Black".

According to Liu Ke, a professor at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts and one of the project's initiators, restoration work will focus on two to three buildings each year. Together with several new buildings, the project envisions an international, eco-friendly art zone utilizing advanced ecological technologies in its construction.

In parallel, efforts are underway to attract more international artists for residencies in the Wumuchong art zone, Liu said.

"We encourage visiting artists to stay longer, typically for one or two months, to create their artwork here," he said.

"This extended immersion allows them to develop a closer bond with China, gain a better understanding of the country, and form collaborative relationships with local artists."